EANS-News: centrotherm photovoltaics boosts Group earnings by almost 50 percent to EUR 37.4 million in the first nine months of 2010

• Revenue up by 22.3 percent to EUR 458.4 million

• EBIT leaps 52.7 percent to EUR 54.2 million

• New order intake of EUR 707.7 million

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Company Information

Subtitle:

• Revenue up by 22.3 percent to EUR 458.4 million
• EBIT leaps 52.7 percent to EUR 54.2 million
• New order intake of EUR 707.7 million

Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - November 10, 2010 - centrotherm
photovoltaics AG is benefiting from the ongoing order boom in the
solar sector, and announces strong figures for the first nine months
of this year: the international technology and equipment provider for
the photovoltaics sector boosted revenue by 22.3 percent to EUR 458.4
million (prior-year period: EUR 374.7 million). Consolidated
operating profit (EBIT) improved by 52.7 percent to EUR 54.2 million
(prior-year period: EUR 35.5 million). The photovoltaics specialist's
EBIT margin increased to 11.8 percent (prior-year period:
9.5 percent). Consolidated net income also reported a marked increase
(49.5 percent) during the first nine months of 2010 to reach EUR 37.4
million (prior-year period: EUR 25.0 million). With a 49.2 percent
increase, earnings per share rose by almost one half to EUR 1.76
(prior-year period: EUR 1.18). An excellent 29.1 percent was achieved
in terms of return on capital employed (ROCE), compared with
21.0 percent in the prior-year period.

"With these solid figures, we are underscoring our attractive
business model once again", comments Dr. Thomas Riegler, CFO of
centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "Over the past nine months, we have
benefited from an outright order boom, particularly in the Solar Cell
& Module segment, and we have further expanded our market share. As a
market leader that has committed itself to the permanent further
development of highly efficient production systems for polysilicon,
solar cells and modules, we remain on a profitable growth path, and
we look with confidence to the months ahead."

High order book position and inflow of new orders The order book
amounted to EUR 747.7 million as of September 30, 2010 (prior- year
period: EUR 922.4 million). The company reported a total inflow of
EUR 707.7 million of new orders (prior-year period: EUR 472.1
million). Two factors, in particular, resulted in this strong order
flow: "Asian customers are expanding along the photovoltaic value
chain, and in doing so are focusing their investments on
high-efficiency technology, in order to realize economies of scale
and declining manufacturing costs", explains Robert M. Hartung, CEO

of centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "We are registering strong demand
for single equipment items, and, at the same time, a resumption of
demand in the turnkey business. This is reflected in high sales
generated abroad." The export ratio was at a record-breaking
95.3 percent during the first nine months of 2010 (prior-year period:
91.6 percent). In the company's foreign business, the Asian market
dominated with revenue of EUR 385.0 million, representing an
84.0 percent share of total Group revenue.

Production capacities tripled Up to 60 systems per month on average
left the centrotherm production halls - three times the volume level
compared with the prior-year period, and, at the same time,
representing a new record in the company's history. The Swabia-based
company prepared itself for this development at the start of the year
with flexible production structures and processes.

As pioneering thought leaders and pace setters offering high-tech
products in the solar sector, centrotherm photovoltaics invested a
total of EUR 30.3 million in research and development (prior-year
period: EUR 19.4 million). The number of employees was up by
24.6 percent to 1,409 staff members (prior-year period: 1,131 staff
members).

Key segment results In the Silicon & Wafer segment, revenue was up by
11.0 percent to EUR 151.3 million (prior-year period: EUR 136.3
million), and operating profit (EBIT) improved to EUR 18.9 million
(prior-year period: EUR 12.8 million). The EBIT margin increased by
around one third to 12.5 percent (prior-year period: 9.4 percent). In
the first nine months of this year, centrotherm photovoltaics
observed a continuous growth in customer interest to expand along the
solar value chain. For example, a silicon customer ordered
multi-crystalline ingot furnaces in order to expand its production.
Operating highlights included the commissioning and successful
production of first silicon on centrotherm photovoltaics systems
("First Silicon Out") at four major projects in Asia and Europe. In
overall terms, there is an identifiable trend toward the expansion of
existing factory capacities, and growing interest outside Southeast
Asia.

The Solar Cell & Module segment continued to make a significant
contribution to the company's success, and achieved the highest order
intake in the company's history in the third quarter of 2010, at
EUR 311.1 million. A new record result was also achieved in terms of
revenue, which grew by more than one half (55.1 percent) to reach
EUR 295.2 million in the first nine months of this year (prior-year
period: EUR 190.4 million). Operating profit

(EBIT) registered a marked increase of 152.0 percent to EUR 60.1
million (prior- year period: EUR 23.9 million). This represents a
20.4 percent EBIT margin (prior-year period: 12.5 percent). This
positive development was particularly due to strong demand and high
delivery volumes for single equipment items, including upgrade
packages for the further enhancement of solar cell efficiency. Along
with the commissioning of a 60 MW production line at Chinese state
operation Lu'an Group Corp., operating highlights included the
ordering of turnkey lines to manufacture crystalline solar cells
placed by two major Chinese companies.

Revenue dropped to EUR 11.9 million in the Thin Film Module segment
(prior-year period: EUR 48.0 million). The segment result (EBIT)
amounted to EUR -24.7 million (prior-year period: EUR -1.1 million),
which was mainly burdened by costs for the further technical
development of equipment.

Outlook: revenue forecast for the full 2010 year confirmed "Due to
the gratifying new order trend, we are confirming our forecasts of
EUR 580 million to EUR 600 million of revenue for the full year,
which we raised when we announced our half-year figures", notes CEO
Robert M. Hartung. "We are also anticipating an EBIT margin of around
11 percent for 2010."

Note: The full report for the first nine months of 2010 can be
downloaded from the company's website at www.centrotherm-pv.com, in
the Investor Relations area.

About centrotherm photovoltaics AG centrotherm photovoltaics AG,
which is based at Blaubeuren, Germany, is the world's leading
technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector. The
company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants
with turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture
silicon, crystalline solar cells and thin film modules. Consequently,
the Group possesses a broad and well-founded technological basis, as
well as key equipment at practically all steps of the photovoltaics
value chain. centrotherm photovoltaics guarantees its customers
important performance parameters such as production capacity,
efficiencies, and completion deadlines. The Group employs around
1,400 staff, and operates globally in Europe, Asia and the USA.
centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenue in the 2009 financial year
of EUR 509.1 million, EBIT of EUR 37.2 million, and is listed in the
TecDax of the Frankfurt Securities Exchange.

Contact:
Saskia Feil
Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8890
E-mail: saskia.feil@centrotherm.de

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8898
E-mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

Christina Siebels, Britta Cirkel
HOSCHKE & CONSORTEN Public Relations GmbH
Tel: +49 40 3690 50-58 /-56,
E-mail: c.siebels@hoschke.de; b.cirkel@hoschke.de

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: centrotherm photovoltaics AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Dr. Torsten Knödler

Manager Public Relations

Tel.: 07344 - 918-8898

E-Mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

Branche: Energy
ISIN: DE000A0JMMN2
WKN: A0JMMN
Index: TecDAX
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
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München / free trade